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Crime Clusterf@$k/Political Pantomime 2yrs, 8dys: Dropping the Ball

There is a lot to rant about and be vex about these days. So let me try and be systematic about what is irking me.

Complaints about the media and the calibre of media in Trinidad is not anything new. In fact I have on occasion raised the issue with people in the media: reporters and editors. The usual position of course is to defend and explain. I have yet to see a situation wherein they’ve defended, explained and then improved. And many times what has been defended, in my opinion, was pretty indefensible stuff….but if it keeps them warm at night who is me to argue.
In the last 6 months my source for news has been the TnT Mirror, I95.5 and wired868.com. I have noticed too that the three major dailies: The Express, Guardian and Newsday, that are given pride of place in people’s minds as being more truthful, balanced and valid, are often playing catch up with the Mirror; and often their major headlines tend to be stories run by the Mirror weeks before. A good case in point is this Sunday’s lead story in the Express on Rabindra Moonan’s new ride….that was a 2 week old Express story.

Since the Jack Warner/FIFA Scandals have begun the only website worth checking for valid and researched information is Lasana Liburd’s wired868. To date not one daily newspaper’s sports’ section has made an effort to find out who owns the Centre of Excellence and when the PSC sent them the 2 paragraph press release that stated Warner was no longer being investigated, not a newspaper or media house made the effort to contact the DPP for comment. It was only when CANA’s reporter Richard Lord questioned the DPP that the mark buss that the investigation by the police…headed by Inspector Totaram Dookie was inadequate, and the DPP indicated that it was inadequate and then advised them to examine Customs and Excise laws….COP Dwayne Gibbs took it upon himself to re-analyse the DPP’s letter and to misinform the Police Service. When I saw the CANA news report I thought for certain the media would have a complete field day with the issue. I expected to see the PSC questioned about their media release, Dwayne Gibbs questioned about his interpretation of the DPP’s statement and his subsequent dropping of the investigation against Warner. I expected to see an interview with Totaram Dookie asking him who he questioned for his investigation and how he arrived at the information he sent to the DPP. I expected to see an interview with Warner asking him how he felt about the DPP’s actual comments…..I expected to damn much.

Instead, to date the only investigative report done on Warner, his corruption, his relationship with FIFA, and his possible fraudulent acts has been done by Lasana Liburd….one man….whereas three media houses with an arsenal of reporters at their disposal have done fuck all.

I’d like to take a minute to thank Mr Liburd for making the effort at keeping us in cyberland informed….unfortunately people with no access to internet won’t know the half that the print and visual media refuse to tell about Warner…and maybe that’s why so many people are still blindly endorsing him as a possible Minister of National Security!

I guess at this point I should also say kudos to the team at the Mirror. I wish the articles carried more weight to them at times; but at least they keep me aware of what else is going on that mainstream media refuses to follow.

And don’t get me started on the non-story that was the Sunday Guardian‘s frontpage. The entire medical fraternity was probably choking with laughter on Sunday at the premise that it was a PNM vs UNC political issue….when it was actually more a UNC vs UNC issue with various members of an RHA along with the Minister of Health stepping on each other’s turf and toes….if you read the story about President Max Richard’s daughter -in-law being denied a management position at a hospital and check between the lines and see that Fuad Khan and Colin Bissessar (note the last name) at odds with each other on a particular staffing choice you’ll see it has nothing to do with PNM at all…..one wonders what inspired the Guardian to run with this story?

Then came the story about the pension/NIS issues….and I had to wait for Keith Rowley to post a note about it today to sum up what was faulty about the reduction in senior citizens pension. Since the news broke about the change in pension I kept saying, “but during the budget, didn’t they say it would be linked to NIS?” Then why were so many people complaining and saying the government had promised them a pension of $3000.00. Then Rowley’s comments today pointed out the campaign promise that had been made by the PP in 2010, and how subsequent to their election victory they began to backpedal on their promise. A promise that I had forgotten about until the FaceBook Note reminded me of it. Where Prakash and his Principles right about now? Mum again?

That this government feels confident enough to play with the little pittance that pensioners get tells me they are either stupid or have testicles of brass! They can’t be interested in a second term in office and angering public servants AND pensioners?

Both Kamla and Moonilal drop the ball bad this week too. Kamla, Kamla, Kamla….I beginning to think you might have an alcohol problem in truth…only someone who on some kind of substance would have treated those protesters in Debe so. No serious leader who interested in a second term in office ill-treats its support base in such a way. Indian women came out and voted for you in droves in May 2010….when you can treat the core of your support base like shit under your shoe, what do you really leave for your non-supporters to think and say?

And before Moonilal learn to hush his mouth and curtail his buffoonery he gets up in Parliament and labels what the protesters did “In Poor Taste”. No Moonilal, it is you, with your asinine behaviour in our Parliament, coupled with the poor judgement and leadership of your government that is in poor taste. You, Kamla and the entire deck of fools remain a class-less act!

Great article; as always. Quite frankly, as someone who knows of Roodboi from my udergrad student days, I never knew that he could differentiate between good and bad tastes. Yet again, he manages to leave a sour taste in the mouth of everyone!

are we saying that media houses are deliberately concealing the news and not following leads? remember how many “journalists” became govt “advisors” after May 2010 election? any how you spin it this thing reeks…

i dont agree agree with the assertion that certain of these protesters in debe made that “we vote for you” meaning that they are entitled to get to speak with the Prime Minister. no my friends, this is Trinidad where every creed and race finds an equal place so you will get screwed just like the rest of us!! You feel you exempt from being f&*ked over? get over it!!

Go to the head of the class again my dear. I myself could not discern the issue with the pension until I saw Dr. Rowley’s letter either and I have also noticed the disturbing trend of these so-called reporters being late to the ball with these critical stories. I remember when everyday an “investigative” reporter would have alot to say about the PNM. Where are they now? Probably had their investigative license revoked?????????????